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Thursday, February 13, 2014

Rabbi Warns Haredi Boys Not To Dress Up As Israeli Soldiers For Purim

Rabbi Mordechai Blau, head of Israel's ultra-Orthodox
Guardians of Sanctity and Education group, implored parents to prevent their
children from dressing up like IDF soldiers, Israel Hayom reported on
Wednesday.

“We are at a time of evil decrees, and dressing up as a
soldier in this period does not increase happiness, rather it increases
sadness,” Blau said. “There are children for whom soldiers are likely to take
on a frightening meaning, like taking their older brother away [to the
army.]"

The rabbi suggested that boys dress up in U.S. army costumes
instead.

Israel Defense Forces costumes are popular among young
Orthodox boys at Purim time.

Last week, ultra-Orthodox demonstrators throughout Israel
protested against millions of dollars in cuts to yeshiva funding ordered by the
Finance Minister Yair Lapid in response to a ruling by the country’s Supreme
Court over the haredi Orthodox yeshiva students’ draft deferrals.

A government committee headed by lawmaker Ayelet Shaked of
the Habayit Hayehudi Party is working to finish revising a universal draft law
that already has passed its first reading in the Knesset. The final bill is
expected to be brought for its second and third reading in mid-March.

The leaders of the anti-Zionist Neturei Karta have in
previous years urged their followers not to dress up as soldiers, policemen or
rescue workers on Purim.